Do You, Uh, Compost?

My beautiful bloggy friend, Mimi @ He, Me + 3 expressed some interest in learning how to do your own compost.

I, by no means, am an expert, but I have been doing mine for over 2 years and have had success – so why not pass along a short, photo tutorial on doing your own compost.

First, you don’t necessarily need to spend $40 on a compost bin.  You can – but don’t have too.  I just bought a sturdy trash can with a lid.  $9.99 at Wally World.  Oh yeah!

You could also use a more stout tub – which might be easier for turning the compost.  I may actually transfer mine in the near future.

Anyhoodle…

Get yerself (a little hick talk) a sturdy, big tub or trashcan.

Drill some holes in the bottom and even a few on the sides.  I have recently found out with all the rain we have been getting, that if I’m not home to put the lid on, it gets pretty soggy-which isn’t good, so the extra drainage would help.  (no photos of this because the bottom of mine was not photo worthy – even for a compost post!)

Set your container on bricks so it’s off the ground and allows for easy draining.

Get yerself a good shovel.  I use a small army shovel!

I filled the bottom of mine with some round river rocks for even easier draining.  Then I piled a bunch of dried leaves that were in my gutter onto the rocks.  I then added some dirt and shredded newspaper (no color print ads, though).  Then I started the compost!  I add all the veggie scraps I have when preparing food.  I have tons since we eat tons of fruit and veggies.  I add egg shells, as well as the compostable cartons they come in. Don’t add any meat, though.  That’s no good!  Don’t add processed foods either. You can see some egg shells in this little bunch I took out.

Every time you add new scraps, turn it so it’s mixed in with the soil.  Keep it ‘moist’ but not soggy.  If it does get soggy, dump it out and let it air dry, then put it back in.  I’ve had to do that a lot this year.  Put the lid on when it rains (if you are home and can) – but fresh air is needed for the compost.

If you get tired of all the turning and mixing, put your kids to work let your kids help and play with the compost.  Mine love it.  Well, one does and he doesn’t seem to mind the smell yet :o)

I also have the added bonus of an on site manure maker.  Not bad, huh?

I tell you, I didn’t add any worms, which you should – but somehow I have tons of worms in my compost.  Worms, bugs, rolly polly’s – you name it.  The compost is so soft and rich – it’s very cool to see how it turns into soil.

I use this for planters, not ground gardening, because our soil is clay, so I stopped even trying to plant stuff in it.  I do ‘pot’ planting, and I don’t mean ‘pot’ pot.  I mean ‘terra cotta pot’ pots.  Got that?  Good!  I’m into herbs and all, but I do draw the line at some point!

And VOILA!

You have yourself compost.  It’s also been a good teaching tool for Bella and her cousin Cody.  Kids these days have no idea how nature works, it amazes me.  I do enjoy hearing Bella say, “Mom, will you be putting that in the compost?”

Hope that helps somebody start a little compost bin in their yard.  You don’t need a farm to do this.  Just a tub and neighbors who don’t have hypersensitive sense of smell (which I do have!)

Happy Weekend!  The BIG ‘Spa’ birthday party is tomorrow.  Of course I will take pictures and share them with you, my dear friends!

“Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest.” 

Douglas William Jerrold